Objective:

To grow crystals that model speleothems found in caves like Crystal Cave and Carlsbad Cavern.

Materials :

Two 500 ml beakers or containers
Water
Salt
Wax paper or clear wrap
Yarn or thick string
Paper and pen to record your observations
Food Coloring, ink or poster paint (Optional)

Procedure:

1. Fill each container with boiling water
2. Stir in salt until no more salt will dissolve
3. Add color (poster paint, ink or food coloring)
4. Place the containers with the saturated salt solution 10 cm apart on top of wax paper
5. Stretch a 20 cm long piece of yarn between each container. Make sure that at least 5 cm of string is in the salt solution
6. Record your initial observations (Draw and describe)
7. Over the next five days observe the containers, the string and the wax paper. Record your observations (Draw and describe)